Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Joel Schnaper came to Boston in 2013 to play trumpet and study under 1997 Thelonious Monk Competition winner Darren Barrett. After graduating Berklee College of Music in 2017, Joel spent a year playing around Boston with his first original jazz group, the Schnaper-Walberg Quintet, as well as writing and recording his debut album "Directions," produced by former teacher Darren Barrett, and set for release in Spring 2019.

Joel has studied, taught and performed on the east and west coast of the US, as well as internationally in Malawi, Canada, and China. He’s studied with some of the finest trumpet players of our time, including Lew Soloff, Laurie Frink, Sean Jones, Charlie Lewis, Jason Palmer, and Al Hood. Joel has toured and performed with greats such as James Montgomery, STIG, Jon Butcher, Brian McKnight and Lenny Stallworth, among many others. Joel is now based in Los Angeles, where he works prolifically as a sideman, arranger, and bandleader.